perrem



May 17 1927.

F. C. PERREM ELECTRICAL VIBRATOR Filed June 2. 1925 2 Shoots-Shut 1 nrun n Patented May 17, 1927.

Uhlllili STATES FREDERICK C. PERRFM, OF BLACKROCK, IRELAND.

ELECTITRIGAL VIBRAIOR.

Application filed June 2, 1825.

This 'ii'n'tuition relates to a. vibrator that is adapted alter-rudely to make and break on electrical oirci'iit at a rapid. rate and peciully to such an apparatus used in conjunction with an inductive apparatus to produce high tension electricity. Such hig l'i. tension current is usetul for example tor supplying the ignition circuit for on internal combustion engine.

One such term of ii 'erruptcr is disclosed and claimed in n copen up upplicution. tiled Feb. 35 1.9215 in my name. having Serial Number 44:7;74-1. My present invention is in the nature ot on improvement over the structure shown in this prior application.

It is another object of my invention to make it possible to install the apparatus with minimum ditliculty and to inspect the vibru- (or contacts readily.

It is another object of my invention to improve the operation of such levices, us well as to render their construction inex- PGHSlVQ and reliable.

My invention possess s other advantageous i ezu'luresv some o'l which with the toregoin g. will be set torth length in the to 1o wi rig; description. where l shell outline in full that form oi nry iuventioii which I have selected For illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present socci- Jication. Although I have shown in the drawings but one form of my invention I do not desire to be limited thereto, since the invention as defined in the claims may be embodied in other forms also,

leiterringg to the drawings:

Figure I is a front view of an apparatus en'ihodying my invention, and showing; :1 cu..- in; tor enclosing the as. minted ports;

Flex 52 is a side view ot the uppzuretus of Fig. 1, showing the nninner of its support. for example on the dash of an automobile;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view oi the evacuated tube in which the contacts-i z: e enclosed; and

Fig. an enlarged section oi? :1 detail.

om of the important advantages of my invention res des in th ease with w -"h the entire vibrator nieclmnisui can he iustzillez'l. Tlhus in lips. l. and I show it box 11 which encloses some of the vibrator niechoi'iisiu. The be); It has :1 top or cover l2 which is hinged at one edge to the upper edge of bot; 1.1. iznd has on open side, (is clearly disclosed in Fig. it. On top cit box 11 there is Serial No. 34,349.

on one end. oi? box It. This clasp has an aperture cooperating with the head 15 of a screw fastened into the end of the cover 19.

the front of: be): ll, there are :1 pair of bindingscrews to fastened in which serve as external terminals tor the entire vibrator. l lzich binding;- screw has it thumb nut 17 by the aid t which the connections can be iestened.

The entire box 11 can be held in place on a stationary elcn'ent 18 (Fig. 2) as by the aid oi? screws 15). passing through one side 20 or? :in angle member 30 fastened to box 11.

In order to hold the tube 13 in place in such manner that it can readily be detached and replaced, I provide a pair of spring clips or a each end of the box ll. Each clip serves also as a. means for conducting current to the tube pzrrts and is adapted to conct wit 1 the tube by resiliently gripping the extensions 22 provided at the tube ends. Each of the clips 21 also has an enlarged base 23 by the aid of which it may be fastened to the top of box ll. It is evident that the entire tube can be taken oil by simply pulling upwardly thereon; and, similarly, it may be reinserted or replaced by pressing it into place.

As explained in detail in my earlier applicution the vibrator is used to open and close it circuit at a rapid rate, such as that of a coil which is supplied with low tension direct or low frequency alternating current. Due to the ruipd fluctuation in current flow brought about by this make and break, there a corresponding rapid fluctuation in the magnet field produced by the coil. In order to produce it high tension current, therefore, it merely necessary to provide a. coil of many turns which are interlinked with the fluctuating magnetic field. This secondary coil can then be used to supply the ignition current 0t on internal combustion engine. All this is now well-known, and has been reviewl herein only tor the purpose of eh'icidu up; the functions oi? the parts now to be described.

Since the opening and closing of the cone. n iidui tacts take place at a very rapid rate, severe sparking would undoubtedly result without taking some precautions. hus I find that the contacts do not spark injuriously when enclosed in a vacuum, such as exists in an evacuated tube 13. Another important teature is to provide a condenser across the contacts to absorb the current induced in the primary circuit as the contacts open. It is necessary to influence the contacts electronuignetically so that they will be opened by magnetic force, and this is usually done by providing an electromagnet and an armature, which latter carries one of the contacts. its the electroinagnet is in series with the contacts, it is evident that the desired rapid operation of the contacts can be secured by arranging the electromagnet in such manner that when energized it opens the contacts, and when deenergized due to this opening, it permits the contacts to reengage. In this instance, in order to make it possible to enclose the contacts in tube 13, the armature of the electromagnet is likewise enclosed, and is influenced by the electromagnet through the walls 0]": the tube.

The electromagnet is shown diagrammatically at 2 t in Fig. 3, and has a pair of poles 25 which are are shaped to lit the tube 13. The magnet structure is located in the box 11, except for atlange 26 which is fastened to the top of box 11, and for these poles which project through the flange 26.

The vibrator contacts are most clearly disclosed in Fig. 3, which shows the tube 13, preferably of glass, in section. At each end of the tube, there is a conducting cap 27 or 28, with which the extensions 22 are integrally formed. The cap 27 has a depending foot 29 arranged to rest 011 top of box 11, and provided for the purpose of ensuring that the angular position of tube 13 will be correct as regards the pole pieces 25. The ends of tube 13 can be hermetically sealed into the caps 27 and 28, as by the aid of wax, but of course some arrangement must be provided in addition to permit evacuation of the tube after the contact parts are all assembled therein.

Each of the caps 27 and 28 serves as a supporting medium for the contacts. For this purpose each is provided with a central projection such as 30, or 31, which extends toward the tube interior, and has a central threaded bore 32. A supporting post 33 is fastened into the bore 32. It has a disclike head 34: to which other elements are fastened as by screws. Thus a doubled metallic element 35 is fastened to the right hand post 33, and serves as a support for the contact spring 36. This spring is fastened to the lower portion of element as by the aid of clamping plates 37 and 3S and the small screws 39. At its free end,

the spring 36 is hooked to serve as a stop for the free end of the contact carrying spring 40. This is fastened to an intermediate portion of the main spring 36, and carries a contact 4-1 of tungsten or the like. Fiu'thermore, spring 36 carries near its free end, a looped piece 42 of magnetic material (Fig. 4-) which serves as the armature tor magnet 24:. The spring 36 is so biased that the contact 41 touches a stationary contact while magnet 24; is deenergized, but when the magnet is energized, it attracts the armature 42 and thus pulls the contact tl clear of contact 43. The hook ll atthe end of spring 36 serves to limit the relative movement of the two springs 36 and 4:0, and thus to ensure ultimate opening of the contacts.

The stationary contact 4?, is adjustable along its axis. and is tor that purpose fa."- tened to the end oi? a screw which taps in a check nut to having a knurled head. This nut has external threads engaging the support 4-? fastened to the post 33. An extension 48 is provided for the support a7, and a piece of insulation 4.9. such as glass, ties the two supports 235 and l? together. In this manner, considerable rigidity is imparted to the structure. Clamping plates 50 and 51. are provided for holding the glass 49 in plarc. Small screws tap into parts 35 and i8, and pass through the insulation 49 to secure the clamping plates 50 and 51 in place.

In Fig. 3. I also indicate in generalv the wiring for the complete vibrator. This includes a condenser which is located in box ll. together with the coil 24. This condenser is connected across the two clips 21., whereby it connects, by way of caps 27, 28, and posts 33, to the stationary and. movable contacts 43 and 41. One clip 21 is also directly connected to one of the posts 16. The other clip connects to one terminal of coil 24, the other terminal of which is connected to the remaining post 16.

It is evident that when an external circuit. including a source and the primary of an inductor coil. be connected in series across terminals 16, the first result would be energization of magnet 24, then retraction of: contact; ll, which opens the magnet circuit, then reestablishment of the contact due to the deenergization of magnet 24. The cycle then repeats; and it is completed at a very rapid rate. There is thus an alternate opening and closing of the contacts 41 and 43. Due to'the fact that the condenser 53 is connected across the contacts. and that they are enclosed in an evacuated vessel, no serious sparking results. Furthermore. since tube 13 is made from glass, the contacts can be observed readily. The entire tube can be removed should it ever be necessary, and can be replaced by new tube, with facility.

The device is very compact and of such rugged. structure as to ensure a relatively long lite.

I clain'i:

I. In an electrical viln'ator, a casing, an electroinagnet in said casing having a pole piece projecting outside of the easing an enclosed vessel, vibratory contacts in said vessel. an armature mechanically connected to one oil said contacts and also enclosed in the vessel, said armature eorcting with the projecting pole piece, and means for holding the vessel on the casing in such position that the electi'oniagnet can influence the armature. said means also serving as a connection to the contacts in the tube.

In an electrical vibrator, a, casing, an electromagnet in said casing having a pole piece projecting outside ot the casing an enclosed vessel. vibratory contacts in said vessel, an arinatin'e mechanically connected to one 01" said contacts and also enclosed in the vessel, conducting caps at the ends of the 'essel. connected. to the contacts, and spring clips on the casing for holding the vessel in proper position on the casing so that the electromagnet can influence the armature.

3. In a. device of the class described. a pair of contacts adapted to make and break an electrical circuit, an elongated mounting to which said contacts are secured in co-operative relationship, atubular vessel surrounding said contacts and having open. ends, a. conductor cap enclosing one end of said vessel and secured to one end of said mounting said cap being electrically connected with one of said contacts, a secoiul condiurlor cap ems-losing the other end of said. vessel and means forming a threaded engagement between said second cap and the other end or? said intninting whereby said. mounting may be secured under tension within said vessel said second cap being electrically connected with said other contact.

4. In a device of the class described, a pair of contacts adapted to make and break an electrical circuit, means for mounting said contacts in. cooperative relationship, a pair of threaded post-s projecting from opposite ends of said mounting and electrically connected to said contacts, a vessel surrounding said contacts and having open ends, and conductor caps adapted to close the ends of said vessel and engage said threaded posts whereby said mounting may be rigidly secured within said vessel upon rotation of either or" said caps.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK C. PEER-EM. 

